Tous les chapitres de : Chapitre 11 - Chapitre 20

My first night as Alpha of Crescent Ridge, I barely slept. The pack house was smaller than Shadowpine’s but comfortable. They’d given me the Alpha’s quarters, a simple room with a large bed and windows overlooking the valley.Every time I closed my eyes, I felt the weight of all those lives depending on me. Forty-three wolves now looked to me for leadership. For protection. For answers I wasn’t sure I had.“Can’t sleep either?” Maya’s voice came from the doorway.“How did you know?”“Because I know you.” She came in and sat on the edge of my bed. “You’re worried you’ll mess this up.”“What if I do? What if I’m not ready for this?” The fears poured out. “These wolves need a real Alpha. Someone who knows what they’re doing. Not someone who only trained for six months.”“They need someone who cares. Someone who’ll fight for them instead of using them.” Maya squeezed my hand. “You’re already better than most Alphas just by being scared. The bad ones never doubt themselves.”A knock on the

I made it to my assigned room before my legs gave out. The moment the door closed, I collapsed against it, shaking.“Breathe,” Maya commanded, kneeling beside me. “Just breathe, Aria.”“I felt everything,” I gasped. “Through the bond. His pain. His regret. It was so strong.”“But you stayed firm. You didn’t cave.” Maya gripped my shoulders. “I’m proud of you.”Dax stood by the window, keeping watch. “He’s still down there. Standing in the same spot. Just staring at where you left.”“Don’t tell me that,” I begged. “I can’t think about him right now.”A knock on the door made us all tense. Maya checked through the peephole and relaxed slightly.“It’s Elder Thorne.”I let him in. He took one look at me and nodded knowingly. “You saw him.”“He tried to talk to me. I said no.” I moved to sit on the bed. “Was that wrong? Should I have listened?”“That depends. Do you want to hear what he has to say?”“Part of me does. But I’m scared. Scared I’ll forgive him too easily. Scared I’ll forget ev

The next morning, I officially accepted the Council’s investigation assignment. Elder Marcus seemed pleased, giving me detailed files on Alpha Victor Kane and his territory.“Be careful,” he warned. “Kane has friends in high places. Don’t go in alone, and document everything you find.”“I will. Thank you for trusting me with this.”After the meeting, I returned to find Maya pacing our room anxiously.“What’s wrong?” I asked immediately.“Seraphina came by while you were gone. She left this.” Maya held out a sealed envelope.I opened it carefully. Inside was a single card with elegant handwriting.“Meet me in the garden at noon. Alone. If you care about your pack’s future, you’ll come. Seraphina.”“That sounds like a threat,” Dax said, reading over my shoulder.“It is a threat.” I checked the time. Eleven thirty. “But I need to know what she wants.”“Then I’m coming with you,” Maya insisted.“She said alone.”“I don’t care what she said. You’re not meeting that viper by yourself.” Maya

The medical tent was in chaos. Healers worked on both Victor and me, treating our wounds. My leg was badly torn where his teeth had caught me. Deep gashes covered my arms and shoulders. But I’d live.“You fought well,” Victor said from the other cot. His pride was clearly wounded more than his body. “I underestimated you.”“Most people do.” I winced as a healer cleaned the leg wound. “About the investigation. When can we start?”“You’re serious about that? I thought you just wanted to beat me publicly.” He laughed bitterly. “You really care about those abuse allegations?”“I care about wolves being hurt by those who should protect them.” I met his eyes. “If you’re innocent, you have nothing to fear. If you’re guilty, you’ll face consequences.”Victor’s expression hardened. “Do what you need to do. I’ll honour the deal.”After the healers finished, I limped back to my room. Every muscle ached. The adrenaline was wearing off, leaving only pain and exhaustion.Maya and Dax were waiting,

Elder Thorne arrived within minutes, his face serious. I told him everything about Seraphina’s threat. He listened without interrupting, his expression growing darker.“She’s getting desperate. That makes her more dangerous.” He paced the terrace. “But it also means she’s worried. She wouldn’t threaten you if she didn’t see you as a real threat.”“What do I do?”“We gather evidence faster. Build a case against her before she can act on her threats.” He pulled out his phone. “I’m calling in favours. Getting Council protection for Crescent Ridge. She won’t be able to move against your pack without facing consequences.”Relief flooded through me. “Thank you.”“Don’t thank me yet. Protection only works if we prove she’s the one making threats. We need evidence.” He looked at me seriously. “Are you willing to wear a wire? Get her to repeat those threats while we record?”“Yes. Whatever it takes.”“Good. I’ll have it ready by tomorrow.” He paused at the door. “Aria, be careful. Cornered ani